Hakim Ward has many goals. From achieving independence to learning creative arts, the 23-year-old has his eyes set on moving forward. In 2013, following a tough breakup and a time where it seemed nothing was going right in life, he knew a change was necessary.

“I always sat at home doing nothing,” Ward recalled. “I didn’t know what to do in the real world or how to get a job.” At the age of 18, a caseworker at his former agency brought up the idea of connecting with Goodwill of Central Iowa. Through a variety of unique, personalized training programs, individuals with barriers to employment learn skills that set them up for success in the workforce, teaching them how to secure and maintain jobs at local businesses.

Ward began working at Goodwill’s Good Beginnings Café, a kitchen-oriented training venture that provides a transitional work experience for individuals in the Food Service program. There, a stepping stone is in place to help career-ready Des Moines residents learn the right set of skills to take their employment to the next level and find jobs that are meaningful and impactful.

“He was interested in working in the food service business,” Kevin Lord, intake and information coordinator at Goodwill of Central Iowa, explained. “Great customer service is a strength of Hakim’s – he’s definitely a people person.” Ward connected with a career specialist who helped him discover an open position at Buffalo Wild Wings for janitorial services. He applied.

After an interview, Ward got the job in 2016. The employment was the change he sought – and a constant source of motivation to continue improving. From communication to attendance, everything was being focused on. “You could see him gain confidence, make more decisions on his own, have the confidence to make those decisions,” Lord said. “Being able to stay on task, being able to complete the job that he was asked to do – Hakim worked really hard.”

Ward even received a raise last fall. This was a big deal that demonstrated his success.

“When Hakim first started with us, he was shy and struggled with his tasks,” Scott Duncan, his manager at Buffalo Wild Wings, said. “I met with him and his Goodwill job coach, and the three of us sat down and talked about his goals. I spent an hour getting to know him as a musician and he got to know me as a father. I told him he needed to become part of our family.”

It was a task that Ward accepted. Even though the experience would be new and, at times, something that pushed him out of his comfort zone, he decided to fully invest in it. “It gives me something challenging to do,” Ward explained, who now faces deadlines and making sure that responsibilities are fulfilled in a timely manner.

Ward said it’s an improvement from where he was prior to taking the job with Buffalo Wild Wings. Duncan agreed. “Since then, he’s grown in maturity,” his manager described. “He has started to pay more attention and put forth more effort. His productivity has tripled in the last six months alone, and he truly takes pride in his work.”

It’s been a long journey for Ward, but a rewarding one. Now, he’s more independent than ever. He relies less on others and more on himself to get tasks done. He’s learned how to navigate the public transit system and has even enrolled in a math class at a local community college. Next, Ward said, he hopes to get a degree in web design and graduate college.

“My childhood dream was computer programming,” he recalled. “I love computers and want to work with them.” He has a passion for music as well, and has set up a studio in his home where he learns how to play different instruments on his own. “It’s very hard, but entertaining.” He also plans to write a book and become better at drawing anime.

Through a combination of self-determination and guidance from Goodwill of Central Iowa, Ward aims to keep moving forward. “I always like challenges,” he said.

When you donate and shop at Goodwill, you help change lives just like Ward’s. 86 cents of every dollar earned in store revenue supports the nonprofit’s mission of providing skills training and employment services to individuals with barriers. To learn how you can contribute, visit Goodwill of Central Iowa for more information.

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